Sayed Jalal - Political Background

Political Background

Sayed Jalal has negotiated ceasefires and hostage releases between The Northern Alliance, The Taliban, and Iran. He operates within a network of influence that once included Benazir Bhutto.

Jalal claims to campaign on a platform that rejects the notion that Afghan politics must be tribal and divisive. He claims to seek an end to warlord politics and is a strong critic of the government of Hamid Karzai, which he views as weak, incompetent, and corrupt. The current political atmosphere of Afghanistan combined with Jalal's message of unity and hope has led some Afghans to compare him to Barack Obama.

A concern in the elections is that Jalal lacks political experience and international support. It is also suggested that Jalal does not know how to speak formal Persian by many Afghans within and outside Afghanistan. His chance of becoming the President of Afghanistan is questioned by many.